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Totally Together

saturday and sunday–the second to last of the year

December 18, 2010 by · Leave a Comment 

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I hope your day is already going well. The excitement the kids are exuding is becoming contagous—this truly is a magical time of year.

Enjoy this weekend. Soak it in. If you have things to do, get them done, but try your hardest to do so with a smile on your face.

Remember: NOTHING is perfect. NOTHING tangible (cookies, baking, wrapping paper, dishes, decorations) is worth getting mad about. Choose joy.

and then spread it.

this weekend:

gather the kids around and PROM the toys one last time. New ones are on the way. There must be something (or a bunch, if you haven’t PROMed in a while!) that another child would enjoy more than your kids currently are.

go for a walk, or drive to see lights

keep up with the Daily 7

you are all in my thoughts and prayers. thank you to everyone of you. oxox

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Tuesday, run errands and all that other stuff you should do

November 9, 2010 by · Leave a Comment 

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Good morning!

How did you do yesterday with the weekend recovery and PROMing the china/linen cabinet? Did you uncover any great treasure?

Today:

run errands

PROM the tupperware area and spice cabinet. Get rid of any spices that you don’t remember buying, or which have lost smell. If you can’t smell it, you won’t taste it! :-)

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Wednesday: clobber the clutter and cobwebs

October 20, 2010 by · 2 Comments 

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Wednesday is our early day—the kids are out 75 minutes earlier on Wednesdays than they normally are.  I like this, because it keeps me moving in the morning, and we have more chill time in the afternoon. We also have NO sports or practices of any kind this day, which is such a wonderful blessing.

Yesterday was an icky day for me. By 10 am, I was pretty much wanting to just start over again. I’d lost (or thought I lost, I’m still not quite sure) 20k email addresses through feedburner, the baby refused to be put down, the phone kept ringing with campaign/prop calls, I dropped a box of rice-krispie-type cereal upside down and the pieces scattered all through the kitchen and dining area, and I stepped in a puddle of water in the bathroom in my socks.

I hate wet socks.

Today:

PROM the immediate living areas—get rid of the paper piles, the stacks of books, the random toys, etc.

speed dust, vacuum, and mop

One cannot manage too many affairs: like pumpkins in the water, one pops up while you try to hold down the other.
–Chinese Proverb

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Monday, Columbus Day

October 11, 2010 by · Leave a Comment 

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Happy Columbus Day! Need some info on Columbus to share with your kids? Here’s a few sites:

Columbus Day for Kids

Biography and printables about Columbus (coloring pages, crossword, word search)

crafts/coloring pages/songs

How was your 10/10/10 yesterday?

Today:

weekend recovery

PROM the pantry/make sure you have your emergency food and water accessible and updated

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day 264: 101 days to go

September 21, 2010 by · 15 Comments 

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I got an email over the weekend from Jennifer, who needs some help. I did email her back, but since I’ve got the best, most caring, and compassionate readers in the world, I thought I’d throw this out to you for any and all advice. Due to the sensitive nature, I’m going to summarize and paraphrase.

Jennifer has two small children who are home with her during the day while she helps run her husband’s business. The three year old has recently given up naps. The baby is four months old, suffers from excema (currently taking two baths a day followed by an ointment/cream routine—dermatologist appt. this week), and has a hard time sleeping for both naps and bedtime.

Jennifer is tired (no kidding!!). She’s overwhelmed and at her breaking point. She feels like she doesn’t accomplish anything during the day and that someone (one of her kids, her husband) is being let down no matter what she does. She’d like examples of how to “get it all done.”

I wrote back that my first instinct would be to not worry about anything except figuring out how to get more sleep. I also suggested soliciting help and to try and get the 3-year-old to stay in her room and rest during the day. I also stressed that she is NOT ALONE. This is a terribly trying time, but it will get better. And that we’re thinking of her and sending lots of cyber hugs.

What are your initial thoughts?

Today:

daily 7

PROM the summer clothes, dig out the winter ones.

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wednesday, september 8

September 7, 2010 by · 1 Comment 

Wednesday!

don’t look now, but it’s already Wednesday. I know. I’m kind of annoyed too.

Today:

get as much done as humanly possible so you don’t wake up tomorrow freaked out that the week disappeared

call an old friend and listen more than you speak. Make a concerted effort—-it’s really tough to not want to turn it all back to you, but you will be giving such a gift if you just listen and acknowledge.

daily 7

PROM your purse or the glove compartment–whichever needs it the most

Many people call a doctor when all they want is an audience. –Reader’s Digest

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Friday Fun Day

August 13, 2010 by · Leave a Comment 

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Hooray for another Friday!

I hope you had a wonderful week full of surprises and accomplishments. Clean your work area up this afternoon, and gear up for a fun and relaxing weekend.

Today:

PROM your work area

daily 7

clean out the front seat of the car, and have the kids clean out the back

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Tuesday–run errands and stuff

August 10, 2010 by · 5 Comments 

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So the update on the no swaddling with the Miracle Blanket thing is that the baby is sleeping pretty well at night but NOT napping. AT ALL. It’s pretty funny to watch her spring up and start banging the crib rails as soon as I put her down. I swear yesterday she took her binky and ran them up and down the sides like she was in prison. crazy kid.

I did get a bunch of work-work done yesterday and the kids were really well behaved considering I banned the TV. Today we’re going to run a bunch of errands and finalize the back to school stuff the school sent out.

and go to the post office.

I hate our post office. Are they all so slow? I see employees walking around back there, but there’s usually only one window open during the day, and the line moves so slow I feel like plucking out eyelashes just so SOMETHING is happening.

anyway. I got two great emails yesterday. Jenny suggested putting in “speed bumps” during the summertime to get the kids on track with their summer reading—stuff like no going to Six Flags until your summer reading is caught up, etc.

and Laura had a fantastic idea of doing a “dress rehearsal” to get back on track for the busy school day mornings. Get up, get dressed, make beds, eat breakfast, brush teeth, etc. all by a certain time. Brilliant!

Today:

run errands

daily 7

PROM the dresser drawers for the very last time. Or until maybe right before the holidays? :-)

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August 7 & 8

August 7, 2010 by · 3 Comments 

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We just got home from three days away at the beach—it was wonderful.

and very very very very sandy.

The baby is now seven months, and she has had a week of milestones. She’s learned to crawl, learned to pull up to a standing position with very-little-help which is kind of freaky, popped a tooth, gotten her first diaper rash (I think sand got in her swim suit?), and the biggest most exciting news…

she got weaned from the Miracle Blanket.

I was dreading this wean. She’s the only one of my three to ever sleep longer than 40 minutes without physical contact, and I was certain it’d be a tough transition. Instead, she rolled over and spread her arms out like she’d been doing it for the past seven months.

huh.

go figure.

This weekend:

daily 7

PROM whatever needs it

meal plan for the upcoming week

Babies don’t need a vacation but I still see them at the beach. I’ll go over to them and say, “What are you doing here, you’ve never worked a day in your life!” –Stephen Wright

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Wednesday, speed dust and vacuum

August 4, 2010 by · Leave a Comment 

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Happy Wednesday!

Speed dust and vacuum today–super quick, just get the main areas of the rooms. No need to obsess.

PROM the front entry way closet and guest bathroom—anywhere where a guest might hang out by his or herself—make sure the area is decluttered and maintained.

Today:

speed dust and vacuum

PROM guest areas

daily 7

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